Musicians are preparing to do battle at championship finals
ON September 16-17 a number of Welsh bands will be in the Centaur Hall at Cheltenham Racecourse, taking part in the Finals of the Brass Band Championships of Great Britain.
There are five graded sections in brass band competitions and the finals for grades 4, 3, 2 and 1 take place in Cheltenham, while the Championship graded bands compete for the title of Champion Band of Great Britain at the Royal Albert Hall, London, on October 14.
The bands in Cheltenham in September are Parc and Dare band and Llanrhug band in Section 1, Abergavenny Borough and Penclawdd in Section 2, Abertillery and District and Newport Borough in Section 3 and RAF St Athan and Oakeley Silver Band in Section 4.
Here is an opportunity to get to know some of the players who are representing Wales in the Finals of the Brass Band Championships of Great Britain.
were founded in 1893 and are now sponsored by Leftfield Environmental.
On Principal Cornet is Darren Williams and playing Soprano Cornet is Paul Eddy. The Flugel Horn player is Andrea Lewis and Mike Saunders is Solo Horn. The Solo Euphonium is Gareth Maidment supported by Hugh Williams on Solo Baritone. Hugh’s son Ceri Williams plays Bb Bass, and Eb Bass is Louise Alexander. Phil Dando is Solo Trombone and the Percussionist is Nathanial Alcolado.
Parc and Dare are competing in the First Section this year and will be promoted to the Championship Section in January 2018.
In Section 3 Finals for the first time is
which was formed in 1971. They have represented Wales four times previously in Section 4. Under their conductor Joshua Ruck they hope to do well in the finals. Principal Cornet player is John Harris with Sarah Corcoran-Lockley playing Flugel Horn and Tracey Phillips on Solo Horn. John Jones is the Solo Euphoni- um supported on Baritone by Sarah Jayne Price. David Corcoran-Lockley is Solo Trombone and on Eb Bass is Russell Morris.
for a time served as the ‘3rd Mons Battalion Regimental Band’ after World War I before returning to its community roots where it has been ever since.
They are representing Wales in the 2nd Section of the Great Britain Finals having appeared 10 times in previous National Finals. On Soprano Cornet is David Bateman and Jon Mudd is on Flugel Horn. Solo Horn is resident conductor Lana Tingay and Jonathan Tingay is on Solo Eb Bass.
Jacqui Llewellyn plays Solo Baritone and on Bb Bass is Steve Ward with Ian Howe on Solo Trombone and Aled Daniels on Solo Euphonium. The Principal Percussionist is Janet Jones. Conducting at the finals is Sean O’Neill. RAF St Athan play Penarth Pier on 2pm-4pm.
was formed in May 1973 by its founder conductor Tony Small. He was a brass teacher in the local secondary school. The band progressed to represent Wales in 11 National Finals in 14 years and appeared in every Section.
To date they have made 13 National appearances. Soprano Cornet is Christopher Smith with Mark Smith on Flugel Horn and Elizabeth Smith on Solo Horn. John Richards plays Solo Trombone with Alun Evans on Solo Euphonium. On Eb Bass is Ioan Harry and Cliff Hyde is Principal Percussionist.
was formed in 1971 and started contesting in 1985 and has experienced varied success over the years. Robin Hackett became Musical Director in November 2012 and he has achieved success by taking the band to the National Finals in three successive years.
Soprano Cornet is Christine Barnet and Principal Cornet is Seamus Gallagher. Amy Hackett is on Flugel Horn and Solo Horn is Jenny Burns.
Solo Euphonium is Kim Shannon with Rachel Williams on Solo Baritone.
Solo Trombone is Michelle Bartlet with Kirsty Davies on Solo Eb Bass and Principal Percussionist is Karl Sheen.
RAF St Athan Voluntary Band was formed in 1938 and apart from a short break during World War II has been active ever since.
The band has been to the National Finals on five occasions and appeared in 4th, 3rd and 2nd Sections. The band conducted by Alan Bourne has played at the National Eisteddfod over 25 successive years and has rarely been out of the prizes. Soprano Cornet is Nigel Stallard and Principal Cornet is Claire Bourne.
Christopher Painter is on Flugel Horn and Geraint Warlow is Solo Horn. Solo Euphonium is Christopher Halliday and he is supported by Victor Partridge on Solo Baritone.
Solo Trombone is Christopher Lednor with Claire Higgins on Bass Trombone. Eb Bass is Mark Turner and Bb bass is Steve Davis. Principal Percussionist is Andrew Cookson.
August 26, Saturday,